How did we end up here?

[punnedout]

Sorry if this has been done to death already, but I’m feeling really down today about the current battle for women’s (and girl’s) rights. My copy of The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht arrived yesterday, and I realised that I’ll have to think carefully about which friends I can mention this to. Not because I would ever hide my views, but because I don’t want to enter into conflict with people I care about over it. I then feel ashamed that I haven’t ever had the courage to stand up and shout about it like the courageous women (and men) who are risking their careers etc doing so. So I just sit at my kitchen table, silently supporting them and praying that people in authority finally see sense.

I hate that my views are regarded by some (a lot in the media) as hateful and extreme. I have nothing against normal trans people and don’t want them to suffer prejudice in their lives. I just think it’s important that the rights of women and girls are protected and believe that biological men don’t belong in their spaces. How does that make me a hate figure?

Sorry for the ramble, but it’s really getting to me today. Does anybody else feel this way?

You are definitely not alone! I'm very worried about the fightback that's happening because I know from my teen DD that there's total nonsense being spewed by TRAs all over the internet, and she - bright, educated, allegedly into women's rights - believes it all.
On the other hand, the fact is that we are a huge majority. It is a tiny minority of people who believe this utter crap. Obviously it's unfortunate that many of that minority are middle class, wealthy white men in positions of power, but that small a minority arguing something so nonsensical cannot (I think) keep this going.
I also think that the entire trans thing is ultimately embedded in capitalism - and at some point, it will stop being a money spinner. If/when that happens, particularly in the U.S., it will crumble.

@punnedoutyou echo my feelings completely. I received my copy of wwww and have hidden it in bookcase as have family staying and don’t want to get into the issues with them (as not sure they’d agree with me, and I don’t think I’m articulate enough to put my point across).
Not sure why really and feel ashamed of myself.

It is easier to discuss this with strangers rather than loved ones so don't feel bad.

I cannot discuss this with my family at all. Stbxh thinks women don't matter (recently discovered that view, he hid it well), DD1 is firmly TWAW and JKR is really mean. If I pushed a talk I really feel she would go NC so I don't. DD2 disagrees but not as vehemently, her school friends were poly, non, pan something or other but were really closet gays and/or autistic. So bloody obvious now. I think she was peer pressured and confused by school PSHE etc. One day we will that that chat, I'm sure of it. Friends throw the words transphobic, racist and homophobic around a lot but their sentences aren't coherent on this subject so we talk about other things and have a laugh. I file it with politics and religion and we deliberately don't discuss either of those.

One day OP, one day. And hopefully soon

Type "Helen Joyce" into the podcast app and listen to her mind at work. Clear, brilliant and totally grounded in reality. I've never once heard her lose a debate. (Also, I met her once and she is just as cool in real life).

How ridiculous is it that we feel this way about a book of women’s essays?! I’m so angry/sad/frustrated about it all.

I absolutely love Helen Joyce - I also have her book (hidden in the same place 😔)

It's probably better not to ask "how did we end up here" it leads down a bleak road